Kimmel is back on ABC to big ratings, but some affiliates still refuse to air his show

NEW YORK – Jimmy Kimmel’s return to his ABC late-night show was viewed by 6.3 million people, among its largest audiences ever, Tuesday despite blackouts in some markets.

ABC says more than 26 million people watched Kimmel’s return on social media, including YouTube.

Typically, he gets about 1.8 million viewers each night on television. The numbers released by ABC do not include viewership from streaming services.

But it’s still a mystery when – or if – viewers in cities such as Washington, Seattle and St. Louis will be able to see him again on their televisions.

ABC stations owned by the Nexstar and Sinclair corporations took Kimmel off the air last week on the same day the network suspended him for comments that angered supporters of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk .